Temperature controlling vest and method of manufacture and use for relieving or controlling menopause and post-menopause symptoms

Abstract

The field of the invention relates generally to devices and methods for controlling the temperature of a human or non-human body. More specifically, the field of the invention may relate to wearable devices, which may be worn by a subject, which human or non-human, wherein the wearable device is in thermal communication with a portion of the subject's body containing brown adipose tissue and wherein the wearable device comprises a means for providing a constant or near constant temperature to the subject's body and therefore controls the temperature of the subject's body, by using a phase change material. The phase material transitions state at a predetermined temperature which may be higher or lower than the subject's exterior body temperature. The device and method are usable to control temperature-related effects of menopause, post menopause and drug induced thermoregulatory symptoms such as night sweats, hot flashes and sleep disturbance.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A wearable temperature controlling vest, comprising:
 a first portion for covering a portion of a wearer's upper front torso;   a second portion for covering a portion of a wearer's upper rear torso;   said first portion and said second portion connected together, forming a wearable vest;   wherein each of said first portion and said second portion further comprise at least one cell having an enclosed volume; and   a phase change material disposed within said enclosed volume of each cell;   wherein, when said wearable temperature controlling vest is worn by a wearer, said phase change material is in thermal communication with a portion of the subject's brown adipose tissue.   
     
     
         2 . The wearable temperature controlling vest of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one cell is further defined as a plurality of cells. 
     
     
         3 . The wearable temperature controlling vest of  claim 2 , wherein each of said cells is further defined as having a periphery, and wherein said cells are formed from a first layer of polyurethane and a second layer of polyurethane overlaid on one another, wherein said first layer and said second layer are attached by seams formed along each cell periphery by attachment means selected from the group consisting of chemical bonding, heat sealing, and ultrasonic welding along seam lines forming said cells, the attachment creating an enclosed volume within the cell for containing phase change material. 
     
     
         4 . The wearable temperature controlling vest of  claim 3 , wherein said second layer of polyurethane has an exterior surface, and wherein a layer of 100% nylon fabric with polyester foam core and nylon tricot backing for forming the loop portion of a hook and loop fastener system is attached to said exterior surface. 
     
     
         5 . The wearable temperature controlling vest of  claim 1 , further comprising an opening for allowing a wearer's neck to pass through said opening when said vest is worn. 
     
     
         6 . The wearable temperature controlling vest of  claim 2 , wherein said vest comprises an opening for allowing a wearer's neck to pass through said opening when said vest is worn. 
     
     
         7 . The wearable temperature controlling vest of  claim 3 , wherein said vest comprises an opening for allowing a wearer's neck to pass through said opening when said vest is worn. 
     
     
         8 . The wearable temperature controlling vest of  claim 4 , wherein said vest comprises an opening for allowing a wearer's neck to pass through said opening when said vest is worn. 
     
     
         9 . The wearable temperature controlling vest of any of  claims 1 - 8 , further comprising a first strap and second strap attached to said vest, said straps adapted to extend around and encircle a wearer's lower torso when worn. 
     
     
         10 . The wearable temperature controlling vest of any of  claims 1 - 8 , further comprising a first strap and second strap attached to said vest, said straps adapted to extend around and encircle a wearer's lower torso when worn, said straps releasable attachable by hook and loop fasteners. 
     
     
         11 . The wearable temperature controlling vest of any of  claims 1 - 8 , wherein said phase change material is selected to change physical state at a temperature between 45° F. and 80° F. 
     
     
         12 . The wearable temperature controlling vest of any of  claims 1 - 8 , wherein said phase change material is selected to change physical state at a temperature between 45° F. and 59° F. 
     
     
         13 . The wearable temperature controlling vest of any of  claims 1 - 8 , wherein said phase change material is selected to change physical state at a temperature between 60° F. and 69° F. 
     
     
         14 . The wearable temperature controlling vest of any of  claims 1 - 8 , wherein said phase change material is selected to change physical state at a temperature between 70° F. and 80° F. 
     
     
         15 . The wearable temperature controlling vest of any of  claims 1 - 8 , wherein said phase change material is selected to change physical state at a temperature between 48° F. to 65° F. 
     
     
         16 . The wearable temperature controlling vest of  claim 3 , wherein said second layer of polyurethane has an exterior surface, and wherein a layer of graphene is attached to said exterior surface of said second layer of polyurethane. 
     
     
         17 . The wearable temperature controlling vest of  claim 3 , wherein said first layer of polyurethane has an exterior surface, and wherein a layer of graphene is attached to said exterior surface of said first layer of polyurethane. 
     
     
         18 . The wearable temperature controlling vest of  claim 3 , wherein each of said first layer of polyurethane and said second layer of polyurethane has an exterior surface, and wherein a layer of graphene is attached to said exterior surface of said first layer of polyurethane and wherein a layer of graphene is attached to said exterior surface of second layer of polyurethane. 
     
     
         19 . A wearable temperature controlling vest, comprising:
 a first portion for covering a portion of a wearer's upper front torso, left shoulder, and right shoulder;   wherein said first portion further comprises at least one cell having an enclosed volume; and   a phase change material disposed within said enclosed volume of each cell;   wherein, when said wearable temperature controlling vest is worn by a wearer, said phase change material is in thermal communication with a portion of the subject's brown adipose tissue.   
     
     
         20 . The wearable temperature controlling vest of  claim 16 , wherein said at least one cell is further defined as a plurality of cells. 
     
     
         21 . The wearable temperature controlling vest of  claim 20 , wherein each of said cells is further defined as having a periphery, and wherein said cells are formed from a first layer of polyurethane and a second layer of polyurethane overlaid on one another, wherein said first layer and said second layer are attached by seams formed along each cell periphery by attachment means selected from the group consisting of chemical bonding, heat sealing, and ultrasonic welding along seam lines forming said cells, the attachment creating an enclosed volume within the cell for containing phase change material. 
     
     
         22 . The wearable temperature controlling vest of  claim 21 , wherein said second layer of polyurethane has an exterior surface, and wherein a layer of 100% nylon fabric with polyester foam core and nylon tricot backing for forming the loop portion of a hook and loop fastener system is attached to said exterior surface. 
     
     
         23 . The wearable temperature controlling vest of  claim 19 , further comprising an opening for allowing a wearer's neck to pass through said opening when said vest is worn. 
     
     
         24 . The wearable temperature controlling vest of  claim 20 , wherein said vest comprises an opening for allowing a wearer's neck to pass through said opening when said vest is worn. 
     
     
         25 . The wearable temperature controlling vest of  claim 21 , wherein said vest comprises an opening for allowing a wearer's neck to pass through said opening when said vest is worn. 
     
     
         26 . The wearable temperature controlling vest of  claim 22 , wherein said vest comprises an opening for allowing a wearer's neck to pass through said opening when said vest is worn. 
     
     
         27 . The wearable temperature controlling vest of any of  claims 19 - 26 , wherein said phase change material is selected to change physical state at a temperature between 45° F. and 80° F. 
     
     
         28 . The wearable temperature controlling vest of any of  claims 19 - 26 , wherein said phase change material is selected to change physical state at a temperature between 45° F. and 59° F. 
     
     
         29 . The wearable temperature controlling vest of any of  claims 19 - 26 , wherein said phase change material is selected to change physical state at a temperature between 60° F. and 69° F. 
     
     
         30 . The wearable temperature controlling vest of any of  claims 19 - 26 , wherein said phase change material is selected to change physical state at a temperature between 70° F. and 80° F. 
     
     
         31 . The wearable temperature controlling vest of any of  claims 19 - 26 , wherein said phase change material is selected to change physical state at a temperature between 48° F. to 65° F. 
     
     
         32 . The wearable temperature controlling vest of any of  claims 19 - 26 , wherein said phase change material is mixed with graphene at up to ten percent graphene to phase change material by weight. 
     
     
         33 . The wearable temperature controlling vest of  claim 21 , wherein said second layer of polyurethane has an exterior surface, and wherein a layer of graphene is attached to said exterior surface of said second layer of polyurethane. 
     
     
         34 . The wearable temperature controlling vest of  claim 21 , wherein said first layer of polyurethane has an exterior surface, and wherein a layer of graphene is attached to said exterior surface of said first layer of polyurethane. 
     
     
         35 . The wearable temperature controlling vest of  claim 21 , wherein each of said first layer of polyurethane and said second layer of polyurethane has an exterior surface, and wherein a layer of graphene is attached to said exterior surface of said first layer of polyurethane and wherein a layer of graphene is attached to said exterior surface of second layer of polyurethane. 
     
     
         36 . A method for thermally managing an area of a body of a person, comprising the steps of:
 providing a temperature controlling vest comprising a plurality of cells, each cell having an enclosed volume containing a phase change material;   placing said temperature controlling vest on the upper torso a person's body such that said phase change material is in thermal communication with an area of a person's body desired to be thermally managed, while said phase change material is undergoing phase transition.   
     
     
         37 . The method for thermally managing an area of a body of a person, wherein said area of a person's body desired to be thermally managed is further defined as an area of a person's body that contains brown adipose tissue, and wherein, when said wearable temperature controlling vest is worn by a wearer, said phase change material is in thermal communication with a portion of the subject's brown adipose tissue. 
     
     
         38 . The method for thermally managing an area of a body of a person of either of  claim 36  or  37 , wherein said step of providing a temperature controlling vest is further defined as wherein said phase change material changes physical state at a predetermined phase transition temperature. 
     
     
         39 . The method for thermally managing an area of a body of a person of either of  claim 36  or  37 , wherein said step of providing a temperature controlling vest is further defined as said phase transition predetermined temperature being between 45° F. and 80° F. 
     
     
         40 . The method for thermally managing an area of a body of a person of either of  claim 36  or  37 , wherein said step of providing a temperature controlling vest is further defined as said predetermined phase transition temperature being between 45° F. and 59° F. 
     
     
         41 . The method for thermally managing an area of a body of a person of either of  claim 36  or  37 , wherein said step of providing a phase change material warming pad comprising is further defined as said predetermined phase transition temperature being between 60° F. and 69° F. 
     
     
         42 . The method for thermally managing an area of a body of a person of either of  claim 36  or  37 , wherein said step of providing a phase change material warming pad comprising is further defined as said predetermined phase transition temperature being between 70° F. and 80° F. 
     
     
         43 . The method for thermally managing an area of a body of a person of either of  claim 36  or  37 , wherein said step of providing a phase change material warming pad comprising is further defined as said predetermined phase transition temperature being between 48° F. to 65° F. 
     
     
         44 . A method for providing relief from menopause, post menopause, or drug-induced thermoregulatory symptoms such as body temperature swings, hot flashes, fluctuation in skin temperature, sleep disturbance, night sweats and other temperature-related symptoms, comprising:
 determining a desired temperature T for applying to an area of a subject's body containing brown adipose tissue;   selecting a phase change material for use in a temperature controlling vest for maintaining a temperature T PC  while the phase change material is transitioning physical state, taking into account thermal losses between the phase change material and the subject's body such that heat transferred from the subject's body to the phase change material during said physical state transition results in said desired temperature T being applied to the subject's body;   providing a temperature controlling vest having an plurality of cells, each cell comprising an enclosed volume containing the selected phase change material;   charging the temperature controlling vest comprising the selected phase change material by subjecting the temperature controlling vest to a temperature that is below the phase change material phase transition temperature T PC ; and   causing the subject to wear the temperature controlling vest such that the phase change material is in thermal communication with an area of a subject's body containing brown adipose tissue while the phase change material is transitioning state, thereby causing heat to be transferred from the brown adipose tissue to the phase change material.   
     
     
         45 . The method for providing relief from menopause or post menopause symptoms such as body temperature swings, hot flashes, fluctuation in skin temperature, and other temperature-related symptoms to a subject of  claim 44 , further defined as the phase change material phase transition temperature T PC  being between 45° F. and 80° F., inclusive. 
     
     
         46 . The method for providing relief from menopause or post menopause symptoms such as body temperature swings, hot flashes, fluctuation in skin temperature, and other temperature-related symptoms to a subject of  claim 44 , further defined as the phase change material phase transition temperature T PC  being between 45° F. and 59° F., inclusive. 
     
     
         47 . The method for providing relief from menopause or post menopause symptoms such as body temperature swings, hot flashes, fluctuation in skin temperature, and other temperature-related symptoms to a subject of  claim 44 , further defined as the phase change material phase transition temperature T PC  being between 60° F. and 69° F., inclusive. 
     
     
         48 . The method for providing relief from menopause or post menopause symptoms such as body temperature swings, hot flashes, fluctuation in skin temperature, and other temperature-related symptoms to a subject of  claim 44 , further defined as the phase change material phase transition temperature T PC  being between 70° F. and 80° F., inclusive. 
     
     
         49 . The method for providing relief from menopause or post menopause symptoms such as body temperature swings, hot flashes, fluctuation in skin temperature, and other temperature-related symptoms to a subject of  claim 44 , further defined as the phase change material phase transition temperature T PC  being between 48° F. to 65° F., inclusive. 
     
     
         50 . The method of any of  claims 44 - 49 , wherein said temperature controlling vest is worn by the wearer for designated periods during each day. 
     
     
         51 . The method of any of  claims 44 - 49 , wherein said temperature controlling vest is worn by the wearer for a first designated period and a second designated period during each day, each period lasting 60 minutes. 
     
     
         52 . The method of any of  claims 44 - 49 , wherein said first period occurs during the morning and the second period occurs during the evening. 
     
     
         53 . The method of any of  claims 44 - 49 , wherein said first period occurs during the morning between 6:00 am and 9:00 am, and the second period occurs during the evening between 4:00 pm and 7:00 pm. 
     
     
         54 . The method of any of  claims 44 - 49 , wherein said temperature controlling vest is worn by the wearer for designated periods during a day for a period of thirty minutes prior to breakfast and continuing for an additional thirty minutes after the beginning of breakfast for a total of sixty minutes each morning, and then again thirty minutes prior to dinner and continuing for an additional thirty minutes after the beginning of dinner for a total of sixty minutes, all together totaling one hundred twenty minutes each day.